MERCED, Calif. — Animal welfare advocates and concerned residents rallied Friday outside the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, calling for accountability in the case of Sweetie, a husky whose alleged mistreatment has sparked outrage across the community.
The demonstration comes as the Merced Police Department continues investigating accusations of animal cruelty involving an unhoused man and his pet husky. Police said the case stems from multiple reports of alleged neglect and abuse, with some concerns reportedly dating back to last year.
Those speaking out on Sweetie’s behalf say their primary goal is to ensure the dog is not returned to her owner.
“We are out here trying to convince the district attorney to never have this man have Sweetie back nor to never allow him to another animal,” said Florence Lambert, a member of the Merced Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Board of Directors.
The case has gained significant traction on social media after photos and videos of Sweetie circulated widely, including an image that appeared to show the husky in a severely underweight condition. Several Merced residents said they had seen the dog in troubling circumstances themselves.
“She looked very skinny, very not fed. She had the look in her eyes like he was making her run behind him really fast. She had a muzzle,” Merced resident Melanie Matthews said.
For Lambert and other animal advocates, Sweetie’s alleged ordeal has been difficult to shake.
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“There are just no words. You even dream about it at night, and you wake up wanting to do everything you can to make sure this doesn’t happen to animals ever again,” Lambert said.
Matthews said Sweetie deserves a better future.
“She just needs to be helped. She just needs to be loved by someone who’s going to take good care of her,” she said.
Sweetie is now in protective custody. Merced police said officers spent weeks collecting and submitting evidence to the District Attorney’s Office, where prosecutors will determine whether criminal charges will be filed.
The Merced SPCA said it received an update on Sweetie’s condition from law enforcement earlier this week.
“They are the ones that advised us that Sweetie is doing as well as she can. She’s eating; she’s not cowering. She’s a very loving dog,” Lambert said. “We are not going to disappear on this issue. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.”
Advocates and activists are also encouraging residents to bring the issue to the attention of Merced city leaders. They are urging people to attend an upcoming City Council meeting on Monday and make their voices heard.
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